District Announcements

Thanksgiving Message from the Superintendent of Schools - Español Abaja

This Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving, we, as members of The City School District of New Rochelle, are thankful for and embrace our rich diversity. Please read this message from our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Osborne shared at the November 22 Board of Education meeting:

Since our last meeting on November 1st there was an election for President of the United States. In the wake of this Presidential election, many voices have been heard throughout the country and here in New Rochelle. Some of those voices have expressed concern about divisions among us; some have expressed hope that we will be able to come together as one country; and some have expressed messages of hate and contempt for others which are deeply troubling.

At least for the moment, we are seeing an escalated national level of intolerance, incivility and intimidation. Our students are well aware of current events, and many have articulated to me that there is fear among some that they will not be afforded the protections they deserve, or will be treated as non-participants in the American dream.

The success of public education in New Rochelle and the meaning of our mission statement is more important than ever. As the leader of this school district, I am confident that I speak for our faculty, our administrators, our support staff and our community when I say that our schools will and must be a place of welcome and support for all of our students. All means All. Our mission statement says that we embrace our rich diversity. We are intentional in this language. It is not our mission to tolerate difference or accept those unlike ourselves. We embrace our rich diversity.

This means that we actively welcome, celebrate, support, and serve all our students and families, and that the differences among us add value for all of us. All means all - all ethnicities, all religions, all races, all family structures, all sexual identities, all sexual orientations, all learning challenges, all differences in physical abilities, all places of birth, all immigrants, all income levels, all walks of life.

In the presidential campaign and the aftermath of the election, the rhetoric of our national political discourse at the highest levels has stereotyped, targeted and blamed many groups by name, provoking fear and doubt. In response to that rhetoric, let us be clear that embracing our rich diversity means that here in the City School District of New Rochelle, we honor, embrace and celebrate those who are Muslim, Jewish, Christian, or searching; those that are of African descent, who are Latino or Asian or Indian or Native American, or European; those that are biracial or multiracial; those who are undocumented or documented or citizen, born in the US or anywhere else; those who are differently abled or who learn differently; those whose native language is Spanish or Creole or English or any other language; those who are female, transgendered, cisgendered or male; those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual, or questioning - and all who are rich and complex intersections. And we mean this about each one of our children and staff and parents and community members, taking our individual differences not as something to tolerate but as something to celebrate, something that adds value, to be supported and protected.

Accordingly, in this time of uncertainty, we reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of each person and the values that reflect the strength of our democracy, and the continuing vitality of our national founding documents:

♦ Our schools will remain places of civility and respect, and we will not accept abusive conduct towards any student.

♦ Our schools will remain havens of safety for all students where differences in race, ethnicity or religion will be respected and appreciated

♦ Our schools will remain havens of safety for students of all gender identities or sexual orientation.

♦ Our schools will remain havens of safety for all students of all national origins and without regard to immigration status.

I’ll end the superintendent's update by quoting from Principal Richardson’s powerful letter to students the day after the election: “I want you to know that you are loved and supported by your family, all of the adults here at school as well as those in the community. We are so fortunate to be a part of such a diverse, vibrant and inclusive community as New Rochelle. I ask that you never take this for granted and take full advantage of the opportunities presented by living and learning in a community as diverse as this one.”

Strategic Roadmap Presentation

Seeking Public Input on the District’s Strategic Roadmap

The Board of Education is developing an action plan that will guide the implementation of the District’s Strategic Roadmap. We seek your input on the draft plan, provided below in both English and Spanish.

One avenue for input is to email your comments to strategicroadmap@newrochelle.k12.ny.us. All comments received by September 30th will be reviewed by each Board member before the October 5th Board of Education meeting.

Prior to that meeting, there will a presentation detailing the plan’s strategic objectives. Following the presentation, a public input session will be held to provide stakeholders with an additional way to make suggestions.

We encourage you to be a part of this collaborative process by emailing your comments or taking part in the public input session.

November Family Letter

Heritage Dinner - NEW DATE TBA

Our annual Heritage Dinner, one of Davis' newer and most special events, will be re-scheduled for the spring. Previously scheduled for Friday, November 18th, the planning committee has decided to postpone the event and enrich it even further! We look forward to having all Davis families come together for this special evening. The new date will be announced very soon!

George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School

Early Dismissal - Thursday, 11/10

This Thursday, November 10th, is our annual Early Dismissal drill day. New York State requires all school districts to hold this annual drill to ensure students and staff know what to do in the event of an emergency. For this specific drill, the school day ends 15 minutes earlier than our normal dismissal time.

District has arranged for transportation to arrive at schools 15 minutes early, to facilitate the early dismissal process. Families who pick up their children should arrive by 3:00. If your child attends an after school program, they will report to that meeting location at the dismissal time and will be supervised upon exit of the building by their corresponding group leaders and staff. After the building is cleared, students attending after school programs may re-enter with their group leaders.

A backpacked notice about the Early Dismissal day went home on Friday, November 4th.

Call the school if any questions!

George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School

Jersey Day!!

Davis students have reached 12,000 fins! This Thursday, November 10th, we will be celebrating with Jersey Day. Do you have a favorite team? Are you on a team? Wear your favorite team jersey!

School Spirit Day!

Davis students are invited to wear their Davis gear or school colors - blue and yellow - on Friday, October 7th to celebrate our first School Spirit Day of the 2016-17 year. As part of our first School Spirit Day of 2016, we will have lively Unity Day assemblies with K-2 and 3rd-5th to celebrate and review our 3 B's - Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe. This is how we earn "fins" at Davis! Our School Spirit days will occur EVERY month on the first Friday. For Davis gear, see the PTA website at davispta.org. However, blue and yellow colors work just fine, as school spirit is inside of us all. We look forward to seeing the coordinated efforts this Friday!!

NEW DATE: K-2 Halloween Parade

Our annual Halloween Parade will shift to Monday, October 31st. The event was previously scheduled in our district calendar for Friday, October 28th. We will now be marching on Halloween. Please join us in the front semi-circle on Halloween as our K, 1 and 2 students march in costume!! 1st grade will begin our march at 9:05 a.m., followed by 2nd grade at 9:25, and finally Kindergarten at 9:45. Parking will be available in the back of the building, on the blacktop. Listen for our Robocall next week! We look forward to seeing you out there!

George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School

Stomp Out Bullying!

The national STOMP Out Bullying! campaign is recognized as one of the nation's most influential anti-bullying programs. Traditionally, the first Monday of October is recognized as a unifying awareness day of the STOMP Out efforts for bullying prevention and recognized by a coordination of BLUE shirts in schools. Since New Rochelle schools were off Monday, 10/3, the unification day will be Thursday, October 6th! Wear blue to support the cause and unify towards this important message. Find more information at stompoutbullying.org.

George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School

After School Electives - SIGN UP!

See attached for Right at School elective course sign-ups! Elective classes start next week!!! Sign up now!!

Rainy Day Baggies!

This week, you received a memo home regarding our "rainy day" baggy initiative. We seek to offer as much variety, as staffing and space allow, on those rainy indoor recess days. Students are encouraged to store, in class, a baggy with books, drawing pads, puzzles, etc. for recreational use. Please see the memo for recommendations on what to bring and what to please keep at home. : )